Q & A: Soprano Vivica Genaux on Mentoring Hasse Artaserse at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg

(Credit: RibaltaLuce-Studio) Celebrated as one of the preeminent mezzo-sopranos of her generation, Vivica Genaux is a definitive champion of the baroque and bel canto repertoires. Renowned for her instrumental role in the modern revival of Johann Adolf Hasse, she was honored with the Hasse-Preis by the Hasse-Stiftung Hamburg in 2025. She is actively collaborating with HfMT Hamburg as a mentor {…}

Feb 4, 2026

Q & A: Soprano Brittany Renee Reflects on ‘Porgy and Bess’ and the Changing Landscape of Opera

(Photo: Daniel W) Soprano Brittany Renee is a Grammy Award-winner who has built up an impressive international career, performing at the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Teatro Regio di Torino, Semperoper Dresden, and Teatro Petruzelli, among others. The soprano is set to {…}

Feb 2, 2026

Q & A: Jason Duika on Being a Verdian Baritone & His Upcoming ‘Rigoletto’ Debut

(Photo: @MontePhoteaux) Jason Duika has been steadily making a name for himself as an up-and-coming American Verdi Baritone, having sung with over ten companies in the US to critical acclaim. He has sung over 20 operatic roles professionally, including the title role of Verdi’s “Nabucco,” in October of 2019 with West Bay Opera, in California, where the reviews said, “Baritone {…}

Jan 30, 2026

Q & A: Ana María Martínez on the Oscar Nominated Song ‘Sweet Dreams of Joy’ from ‘Viva Verdi’

(Credit: Ashkan Roayaee) In early January, “Sweet Dreams of Joy,” the song in the documentary “Viva Verdi,” was shortlisted in the 15 finalists. However, no one gave it a chance as the field included such stars as Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, Billy Idol, Stephen Schwartz and Nine Inch Nails. But on Jan. 22, 2026, when the Academy announced the nominees {…}

Jan 27, 2026

Q & A: First Countertenor Patrick Dunachie & Baritone Chris Bruerton on The King’s Singers

(Photo: The King’s Singers press) The King’s Singers, a beloved ensemble, will be performing at NYC’s St. Bartholomew’s Church on February 4th at 7:30pm, and the Washington National Cathedral in DC on February 6th and 7th, 2026 at 7 p.m. These will also be some of the last performances with first countertenor Patrick Dunachie (after 10 years in the group) {…}

Jan 23, 2026

Q & A: Patricia Illera on Interpreting Ástor Piazzolla’s Iconic ‘María de Buenos Aires’

The choice of the young Spanish mezzo Patricia Illera for the roles of María and her shadow in Ástor Piazzolla and Horracio Ferrer’s opera “María de Buenos Aires” was a wise one. After studying medicine at the UAM and singing at the Madrid School of Singing (ESCM), she has been able to alternate between oratorios such as Saint Saëns and {…}

Jan 21, 2026

Q & A: Marina Rebeka & Ludovic Tézier on Recording ‘Simon Boccanegra’ & Debuting ‘Nabucco’

Marina Rebeka and Ludovic Tézier need little introduction. Simply put, they are two of the most important Verdi singers of our time. The two have sung several of the composer’s works, with Rebeka becoming the go-to soprano of the composer’s early works requiring Bel Canto agility, while Tézier has dominated many of the composer’s most dramatic operas. Recently they made {…}

Jan 21, 2026

Q & A: Roberto Alagna on Making Waves at 62, Singing ‘Turandot’ at the Royal Opera House & Career Highlights

(Credit: Slawek Przerwa) Legendary tenor Roberto Alagna is celebrating 43 years in the business. Considered to be the least talented in a large family of musicians, he nonetheless spent his youth busking around Paris cabarets, singing pop music accompanied with his guitar. But his passion, fired by Mario Lanza films, was opera and, largely self-taught, he pursued that dream. That {…}

Jan 19, 2026

Q & A: Cecilia Molinari on Her Lyric Opera of Chicago Debut, Bel Canto & ‘Così fan tutte’

(Credit: Alina Fejzo) In February, Cecilia Molinari will make her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut and her U.S. debut in a production of “Così fan tutte.” Over the years, the mezzo-soprano has become well known for her interpretations of bel canto, Mozart and baroque roles, notably in “Il barbiere di Siviglia,” “Le nozze di Figaro,” and “Ariodante.” She has performed {…}

Dec 10, 2025

Q & A: Countertenor Nils Wanderer on Discovering His Soul’s Voice & the Evolution of Opera

(Photo: Guido Werner) Wanderer by name, wanderer by nature, Nils Wanderer is an internationally acclaimed German countertenor, actor and choreographer. He was winner of the 2022 Bundeswettbewerb Gesang and Second Prize Winner of the world’s most prestigious opera competition, Operalia, in the same year. He has been hailed, by Olyrix, for his “beautiful, dark, well developed and amber colored voice {…}